City Council discusses budget goals

LAKE ELSINORE —— Increased public safety and law enforcement
topped the list of goals discussed by City Council members on
Tuesday, as they began discussing the city's budget for the coming
fiscal year, which begins July l.

The first-blush budget meeting did not delve into dollar
amounts, but rather how the council may allocate funding based on
the city's greatest needs. In the next step, the staff will begin
crunching the numbers and divvying up the expected $26.2 million
general-fund budget to try and meet the agreed-upon priorities.

Suggestions for improving public safety included increased
staffing and patrol hours for the city's police department, as well
as a continuing focus on gang activity and traffic enforcement.

Councilman Bob Schiffner said that while the city's police
department is doing a great job, improving public safety services
should be a top priority.

"Any money we can shake loose, I would like to see put into law
enforcement," he said.

Councilman Thomas Buckley suggested the staff look into the cost
of purchasing portable, battery-operated video cameras that could
be placed at hot spots in the city that are frequent targets for
graffiti.

As part of the ongoing budget process, several public meetings
will be held over the next couple months before the council
approves the final version of the budget sometime in late spring.
The next budget meeting is scheduled for April 21.

At Tuesday's meeting, the council reviewed a staff report laying
out each department's goals, as the council begins weighing how
much money to allocate to each of those departments. Interim City
Manager Bob Brady said the goals discussed Tuesday were a result of
input from the council, the city manager and department heads.

Besides public safety, council members wish lists for the coming
year included everything from more parks to technological upgrades
for improving performance at City Hall.

Mayor Bob Magee asked the staff to look into the possibility of
purchasing land on the west side of the lake for building a
park.

"We've got five or six parks within walking distance of here and
not a single park on the other side of the lake," Magee said.

Councilwoman Genie Kelley asked the staff to look into the
possibility of setting up a Boys and Girls Club in the city, as
well as signing an agreement with the Lake Elsinore Unified School
District for public access to the swimming pool being installed at
Lakeside High School, which is being built at the north end of the
lake.

In the budget goal report, the city treasurer's office called
for an in-depth review of all the city's bond issues, particularly
the legal aspects of refinancing those bonds. Treasurer Pete Weber
also asked that he be included in the selection process of hiring a
financial advisor for the city.

Among the goals discussed for the city attorney's office were
the preparation of revised personnel rules and an updated City
Council policy manual, assisting and advising the city as it begins
working on an update to its general plan and negotiating and
preparing documents for an affordable housing project.